Swain's Sights Set On Easter Cup Glory

PARALOWIE trainer Colin Swain usually has only a four-dog kennel, but these days it is down to only two.

But Colin heads to Angle Park on Thursday night with the hugely improved Dracarys (Banjo Boy-Winsome Sandy) chasing the Easter Cup (600m) against a tough field of middle distance gallopers.

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Dracarys has been in Swain's kennel since March coming from NSW where he had won just once in 13 race starts.

Colin is the first to admit he was wary about the chances of Dracarys building on his career stats.

“But, the same connections have been very good to me and sent me some lovely dogs, including Ebby Lamar and I won 17 races with him,” he said of the $4500 internet purchase.

Ebby Lamar won the South Australian final of the National Sprint but broke a hock and did not make it to Perth for the rich final.

“Maybe it is my small kennel and the different things I do with my dogs that suits some of them,” said Colin of the improvement in Dracarys.

He has started seven times for his new kennel and won four, the past three over 600m.

But, Swain believes Dracarys is badly drawn for the Cup on Thursday night.

“He likes to get over to the rails,” he said.

“I think the one and the seven will head to the front and I just hope the seven takes my bloke across with him and he can get into a close position right behind those leaders.”

But Swain rates Zipping Galon hardest to beat.

“It looks to me that Zipping Galon will get a great run into the race behind the leaders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bill Wudarczyk believes top flight galloper Alfieri (Fernando Bale-Rhonda Rocks) needs to jump and lead to be able to win the ‘Eastar' Match Race series (515m) on Thursday night.

Alfieri comes up against Cairnlea Ebony in the two-dog match.

“He has to begin and lead around the first turn to be able to win the overall race,” said Bill.

“When he leads, he can run time.”

Alfieri, a litter brother to champion Sennachie who is also owned by Bill and Kirin Corby, has won 20 of his 31 starts including his past two at Angle Park including a slick 29.67.

At 29.50, Alfieri is the quickest of the eight runners in the Match Race series.